SCULPTRA VS HYALURONIC ACID FILLER 💉 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

Summary

In this informative video, board-certified dermatologist Andrea discusses Sculptra, a poly-L-lactic acid filler used for volume restoration and skin tightening. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Sculptra stimulates collagen production for a more natural, gradual, and longer-lasting effect. She covers its FDA indications, benefits, and potential downsides, including the irreversible nature and the need for multiple treatments. Andrea also touches on off-label uses and the importance of choosing a skilled injector for optimal results.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sculptra is a biostimulatory filler that stimulates the body to produce its own collagen, providing a more natural and long-lasting effect compared to hyaluronic acid fillers.
• 🔍 Sculptra has been FDA approved for the treatment of facial fat loss in HIV patients since 2004 and recently for wrinkles and fine lines.
• 🌟 The active ingredient in Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid, the same compound found in dissolvable sutures, which gradually dissolves into carbon dioxide and water over 9 to 20 months.
• 📈 Results from Sculptra are not immediate; they develop gradually over 6 to 12 weeks as the body produces new collagen, often referred to as the 'Sculptra glow'.
• 💉 Sculptra requires at least three treatments spaced at least three weeks apart, and the full effect is seen around 12 to 24 weeks after the final injection.
• 💰 The cost of Sculptra treatments can vary widely, ranging from $850 to $2,000, depending on the location.
• 🆕 Galderma, the company that manufactures Sculptra, has reformulated the product to be more dilute and easier to work with, reducing the risk of clogging needles and nodule formation.
• 🚫 Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Sculptra is not reversible with an enzyme, making it a more significant commitment with no option for immediate correction if dissatisfaction occurs.
• 🤔 Individual responses to Sculptra can vary, with some people experiencing less collagen production and underwhelming results despite the treatment.
• 💡 Sculptra is not only used for facial volume restoration but also for treating volume loss in the backs of hands, improving cellulite appearance, and smoothing out acne scars.
• 🧴 Post-treatment care includes massaging the injected area for about five minutes to ensure even distribution of the product and prevent clumping.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is Sculptra, a type of dermal filler used for volume restoration and treatment of wrinkles and fine lines.

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker is Andrea, a board-certified dermatologist who regularly posts skincare content on YouTube.

What is the difference between hyaluronic acid fillers and Sculptra?

Hyaluronic acid fillers provide an almost instant volume effect, while Sculptra is a biostimulatory filler that stimulates the body to produce its own collagen, resulting in a gradual and longer-lasting effect.

What are the FDA indications for Sculptra?

Sculptra has been FDA approved since 2004 for the treatment of fat loss in the face of HIV patients and later for deeper contours like nasolabial folds. It recently gained FDA approval for wrinkles and fine lines.

What is the active ingredient in Sculptra?

The active ingredient in Sculptra is poly-L-lactic acid, which is the same compound found in dissolvable sutures.

How does Sculptra work to enhance facial volume?

Sculptra works by stimulating fibroblasts, the cells that make collagen, to produce more collagen, leading to a gradual improvement in skin tone, softening of wrinkles, and volume restoration.

How many treatments of Sculptra are typically required?

At least three treatments of Sculptra are needed, spaced at least three weeks apart.

What is the cost range for Sculptra treatments?

The cost of Sculptra treatments can vary depending on the location but generally ranges from $850 to $2,000.

What is the advantage of the newer formulation of Sculptra?

The newer formulation of Sculptra allows for a more dilute solution, which is less sticky, less likely to clog needles, and reduces the risk of nodule formation.

What are some potential side effects or drawbacks of Sculptra?

Potential drawbacks include the irreversible nature of Sculptra, the lack of instant results, the need for multiple injections, and the possibility of variable outcomes due to individual responses to collagen production.

Can Sculptra be used for purposes other than facial volume restoration?

Yes, Sculptra can also be used to treat volume loss in the backs of the hands, improve cellulite, and potentially smooth out indented acne scars.

What is the Sculptra glow and how is it related to the treatment?

The Sculptra glow refers to the more radiant appearance of the skin as a result of the body producing new healthy collagen after Sculptra treatment.

Is Sculptra a preventative treatment for wrinkles?

While Sculptra can improve volume and reduce wrinkles, there are no studies suggesting that it has a preventative effect on wrinkle formation when used in one's 30s.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Introduction to Sculptra Filler

In this introductory paragraph, board-certified dermatologist Andrea introduces the topic of Sculptra, a type of filler used to enhance bone structure and restore lost volume. She explains that Sculptra is a biostimulatory filler that differs from hyaluronic acid fillers by stimulating the body to produce its own collagen, resulting in a more gradual and longer-lasting effect. Andrea also mentions the recent FDA approval for Sculptra's use in treating wrinkles and fine lines, and its historical use for facial fat loss in HIV patients. Sculptra is composed of poly-L-lactic acid, similar to dissolvable sutures, and requires at least three treatments for optimal results.

05:01

🔍 Sculptra's Mechanism and Advantages

This paragraph delves into how Sculptra works, emphasizing its gradual stimulation of collagen production by fibroblasts, leading to an improvement in skin tone and a softening of wrinkles over 6 to 12 weeks. Andrea discusses the benefits of Sculptra, including its discreet and semi-permanent nature, its ability to provide a more natural look compared to hyaluronic acid fillers, and the long-lasting results that can last for years. She also addresses the new formulation by Galderma, which allows for easier dilution and reduces the risk of clogging needles and nodule formation.

10:02

🚫 Disadvantages and Considerations of Sculptra

Andrea outlines the potential downsides of Sculptra, noting that it is not reversible like hyaluronic acid fillers, which can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. This makes Sculptra a significant commitment as there is no easy way to undo its effects if dissatisfaction occurs. She also mentions the lack of instant results, the need for multiple injections, and the necessity of post-injection massage to ensure even distribution. Furthermore, Sculptra can be painful, may cause bruising, and carries the risk of nodule formation, although these can be mitigated with proper injection techniques. Lastly, Andrea points out that results can vary greatly from person to person, and there is no guarantee of satisfactory outcomes.

15:06

🌟 Sculptra's Broad Applications and Future Prospects

In the final paragraph, Andrea explores additional uses for Sculptra beyond facial volume restoration, such as treating volume loss in the backs of hands, improving cellulite, and smoothing out indented acne scars. She also discusses the potential preventative benefits of Sculptra for individuals in their 30s and the importance of consulting with a professional before deciding to undergo treatment. Andrea wraps up by encouraging viewers to share their experiences with Sculptra in the comments and reminds them of the importance of sun protection and subscribing to her channel for more skincare content.

Keywords

💡Sculptra

Sculptra is a type of biostimulatory filler made of poly-L-lactic acid, used in dermatology to restore lost volume in the face and stimulate the body's natural collagen production. In the video, it is discussed as an alternative to hyaluronic acid fillers, with a focus on its gradual effects and semi-permanent results, as well as its recent FDA approval for treating wrinkles and fine lines.

💡Filler

In the context of the video, a 'filler' refers to substances that are injected to enhance bone structure and restore lost volume in the skin. Fillers are categorized into hyaluronic acid-based and biostimulatory fillers, with Sculptra being an example of the latter. The script discusses the differences between these types and their applications in cosmetic procedures.

💡Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring hydrating substance in the body that attracts water. In the field of dermatology, it is commonly used in fillers for its ability to provide volume and hydration to the skin. The video contrasts hyaluronic acid fillers with Sculptra, highlighting the differences in their mechanisms of action and longevity.

💡Bostimulatory Fillers

Bostimulatory fillers are a category of injectable substances that stimulate the body to produce its own volume, primarily through collagen production. Sculptra is an example of a biostimulatory filler, as it encourages the body's fibroblasts to create more collagen, leading to a more natural and longer-lasting effect compared to other fillers.

💡Fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are cells found in connective tissue that are responsible for the production of collagen and elastin. In the video, Sculptra's action on fibroblasts is emphasized, as it stimulates these cells to produce more collagen, which contributes to the skin's firmness and the reduction of wrinkles.

💡FDA Approval

The term 'FDA Approval' refers to the authorization given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the use of a medical product. The video mentions that Sculptra has received new FDA indications for treating wrinkles and fine lines, in addition to its previous approval for treating facial fat loss in HIV patients.

💡Nasolabial Folds

Nasolabial folds, also known as 'smile lines,' are the lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. The video discusses Sculptra's FDA approval for treating deeper contours like nasolabial folds, indicating its use in reducing the appearance of these lines.

💡Galderma

Galderma is the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Sculptra, as well as other skincare products like Cetaphil and Differin. The video mentions Galderma in the context of Sculptra's formulation improvements, which have made the product easier to use and less likely to cause complications.

💡Nodules

Nodules, in the context of the video, refer to lumps or bumps that can form as a side effect of certain injectable treatments, including Sculptra. The script discusses the risks of nodule formation with Sculptra and the techniques used to minimize this risk, as well as the challenges associated with their treatment.

💡Volume Restoration

Volume restoration is the process of replenishing the skin's volume that has been lost due to aging or other factors. The video highlights Sculptra's role in volume restoration, emphasizing its ability to stimulate the body's own collagen production for a more natural and long-lasting effect.

💡Radiant Glow

The term 'radiant glow' is used in the video to describe the improved skin appearance that some patients experience after Sculptra treatment, as a result of increased collagen production. This glow is associated with healthier, more luminous-looking skin, which is a desirable outcome of the treatment.

Highlights

Sculptra is a biostimulatory filler that stimulates the body to produce its own collagen for a more natural and long-lasting effect.

Sculptra is indicated for treating facial fat loss in HIV patients and has received new FDA indications for wrinkles and fine lines.

Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid, the same compound found in dissolvable sutures, and differs from hyaluronic acid fillers in its gradual and longer-lasting effect.

The process of Sculptra involves a series of injections over 6 to 12 weeks to stimulate collagen production, resulting in a gradual improvement in skin tone and volume.

Sculptra injections require at least three sessions spaced three weeks apart, with results becoming more apparent over time.

The cost of Sculptra treatments can range from $850 to $2,000, depending on the location and the pharmaceutical company Galderma.

Galderma has reformulated Sculptra to be more dilute and easier to work with, reducing the risk of clogging needles and nodule formation.

Sculptra is considered semi-permanent, with the substance dissolving over 9 to 20 months, while the collagen it stimulates remains for a longer period.

There is variability in individual responses to Sculptra, with some people experiencing less collagen production and underwhelming results.

Sculptra offers the advantage of a more discreet and natural-looking volume restoration compared to hyaluronic acid fillers.

Sculptra is less likely to cause an overfilled or unnatural appearance, providing a more gradual and long-lasting improvement.

The main disadvantage of Sculptra is its irreversibility; unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, there is no easy way to dissolve Sculptra if results are unsatisfactory.

Sculptra does not provide instant results, requiring a commitment to a series of injections and a delayed onset of visible benefits.

Post-injection massage is necessary for Sculptra to ensure even distribution and prevent clumping, which can be bothersome for some patients.

Sculptra can be used for other cosmetic applications such as treating volume loss in the back of hands and improving cellulite.

There is interest in using Sculptra for acne scars, as the increased collagen production can help smooth out skin indentations.

Sculptra may have potential preventative effects when used in the 30s, although more research is needed to confirm its long-term benefits.

The video creator emphasizes the importance of discussing Sculptra with a professional to determine if it is the right choice for individual needs.

Transcripts

well hey guys you have been asking for

some time now for me to do a video on

sculptra so that's what you're getting

today we're going to be talking all

about sculptra it is a filler i'm going

to be going over what it's indicated for

what you might expect with it the pros

and cons of sculpture and i'm going to

be discussing how it differs from other

types of filler on the market if you are

new here welcome my name is andrea i'm a

board-certified dermatologist i post

skincare content here on youtube pretty

regularly if that is of interest to you

definitely subscribe hit the bell

notification that lets you know when my

videos go live the term filler is kind

of a catch-all term used to describe a

variety of gel-like substances that can

be injected to enhance bone structure

and to restore lost volume now the

majority of fillers that come to mind

when people are talking about fillers

that are fda approved are going to be

hyaluronic acid based fillers hyaluronic

acid is a hydrating substance it's

naturally found in the body and it

attracts water i got a lot of videos

talking about hyaluronic acid filler the

complications i will link some of those

down below in the description box but

there's another category classified as

biostimulatory fillers meaning they kind

of stimulate your body to naturally

produce its own volume and namely that's

going to be collagen biostimulatory

fillers include radius bellophill and

sculpture which is what we're going to

be covering in today's video now you've

probably heard a lot more buzz around

sculptra lately because it recently has

gotten some new fda indications namely

for wrinkles and fine lines but sculptra

has been around for a long time and a

lot of dermatologists have been using it

for a long time off label

for wrinkles and fine lines for some

time now

but it is now fda approved for that

indication prior to that it has been fda

approved since 2004 for the treatment of

fat loss in the face of hiv patients

undergoing hiv treatments so one adverse

effect of certain hiv to medications is

that it can cause fat loss in the face

it's actually quite disfiguring i want

to say around 2009 i got fda approval

for deeper contours like the nasolabial

folds so what the heck is sculptura

sculpture is poly l lactic acid it's a

sticky polymer that is actually the same

compound as what is found in dissolvable

sutures they put sutures underneath the

skin that later dissolve same substance

as many of those types of sutures

sculptra differs from hyaluronic acid

fillers in that in contrast to

hyaluronic acid fillers which provide an

almost instant feeling effect the

filling that happens with sculptra is

much different it stimulates your body's

ability to produce collagen so it's a

lot more gradual in onset but the end

result is longer lasting fullness

because it's actual collagen that your

body is making as opposed to just

temporary volume replacement fibroblasts

are cells that make collagen so this

stimulates them to make more collagen

now as you can imagine that is not an

instant effect it takes some time it

occurs gradually over 6 to 12 weeks as

those fibroblasts start to be stimulated

to make collagen over the following 6 to

12 weeks you start to subtly and

gradually notice an improvement in skin

tone some people refer to it as the

sculptra glow you can imagine as you get

new healthy collagen being naturally

made you start to have more luminous

appearing skin you also have softening

of wrinkles and a gradual improvement in

volume you may be wondering okay so

you're injecting sculptra and eventually

the body starts making its own collagen

again as a result but what happens to

that sculptural that was injected well

it gradually dissolved over the

following nine to twenty months into

carbon dioxide and water with sculptra

you need at least three treatments

spaced at least three weeks apart and it

takes time to see results so it's not

the kind of thing that you go in you get

the injection and then people are like

oh whoa did you just get filler how much

does it cost like with any cosmetic

procedure it's going to vary depending

on where you live but it's going to

range anywhere from 850 to 2 000

the pharmaceutical company that makes uh

that makes sculpture is galderma same

company that makes different gel and

same company that makes cetaphil

same company that makes

cilantro and they have recently kind of

reformulated sculptra

for a better product basically they have

made it so that it can be more dilute

and that's advantageous because

previously sculptra has always been a

very difficult product to work with i

have used it myself not on myself but i

have used it for patients and it's very

very sticky the older formulation your

needle would clog a lot and the other

annoying thing about sculptra was that

you had to make it up 24 hours in

advance to let it kind of marinate and

that was a pain because as you can

imagine a patient might come in

you discuss a treatment plan come to the

conclusion that sculpture is the best

option for them and then they have to

come back because you don't have the

sculpture made up you've gotta you know

make it up and let it sit for 24 hours

so this is nice because now a patient

comes in you decide that sculpture is

the best treatment for them you know the

right approach you can just go ahead and

dilute the new formula and it's ready to

go so that's an advantage and because

the newer formulation has tweaked the

dilution

it is a lot more fluid the needles don't

clog as readily and there's less risk of

a side effect that can happen with with

sculpture which is the formation of

nodules which nobody wants

so that's the gist of what sculpture is

it's different from hyaluronic acid

filler and that it actually stimulates

your body's cells to make collagen and

it's so it's considered semi-permanent

hyaluronic acid filler is is not

permanent as you guys know

you've got to go back in and get another

injection you know around 10 months in

order to maintain the fullness whereas

with sculptra you do have to get

multiple injections but once you get

them you get that gradual onset of

volume restoration it's your body's own

collagen so it's semi-permanent in a

sense the sculpture itself is not

permanent it dissolves but the end

result is

more permanent and sustained because

it's your body's own collagen there is a

lot of variability though from person to

person

in terms of the new collagen synthesis

from sculptural injections not

everyone's fibroblasts respond as

robustly so there can be some

variability in terms of

the outcomes that you get not everybody

is somebody who responds well and gets

less than ideal results and it is an

expensive treatment in contrast to

hyaluronic acid let's go over the pros

of sculptra why it's advantageous first

of all it's a lot more discreet in that

you get it and it's a gradual onset so

it's not as obvious if you want to be if

you want to have volume restoration and

improvement of facial volume but not

have that like all at once oh my god you

got filler it's a lot more discreet

and it's semi-permanent in contrast to

hyaluronic acid filler so your body is

going to make some collagen and that's

going to be more long-lasting now the

substance itself will dissolve but in

contrast to hyaluronic acid filler this

is considered semi-permanent the other

advantage of sculptra over hyaluronic

acid filler is that it's less likely

that you're going to get that overfilled

look you know a lot of people who get

really into getting fillers they can

tend to

have that sort of doughy puffy look

after a while that's very unnatural with

sculpture it's a lot more natural you're

not going to get that puffy overfilled

doughy look and in contrast to

hyaluronic acid filler the seri after

the series of injections you're going to

get lasting results that last for years

and contrast to a hyaluronic acid filler

where you're going to have to have

repeat injections every 10 months those

are the pros what about the cons the

number one con in my mind is that

sculptra in contrast to hyaluronic acid

it's not reversible so hyaluronic acid

filler you can go in and dissolve with

hyaluronidase there's nothing really

that can dissolve sculptra so if you

decide that you don't like the results

or you develop an adverse effect like

nodules well there's not a whole lot

that can be done in the case of nodules

then those can be removed surgically but

it's challenging and not everyone is a

great surgical candidate so it's a lot

you know you it's a big commitment i

would say up front and the you have to

you have to have a lot of confidence in

the injector and the technique and so

it's definitely not something to just

kind of decide on a whim it is something

that is irreversible the other con for

some people is that you're certainly not

going to get instant results or instant

gratification for some people they want

something more instant they're really

really bothered by their the volume loss

in their face it's really affecting them

emotionally they may not be willing to

have that gradual

delayed onset of benefit i say it's not

instant but you might likely notice some

swelling in the first 48 hours so you

may think that that's what it's going to

look like that's just temporary swelling

it's not something that you're going to

appreciate for many weeks to come you

also have to commit to having repeat

injections three injections about every

three to four weeks the other somewhat

annoying thing about sculptra is that

you have to spend some time massaging it

in after the injection about five

minutes of massage massage massage

which you know may be bothersome to you

and the reason for that is to allow for

more even

distribution and prevent kind of

clumping the maximum volume enhancement

that you will see typically is around 12

to 24 weeks after the final injection so

again a bit of a delayed gratification

there as with any injectable of course

it can be painful to have the injection

now there is lidocaine in the injection

which helps with that but there can be

pain there can be bruising

and a more worrisome i guess side effect

of course is going to be the formation

of nodules now there are a variety of

approaches and techniques to minimize

the risk of nodule formation the

injector of course can make sure that

the sculpture is diluting this newer

formulation

allows for that

they also can inject smaller volumes

certain injection techniques minimize

the risk of nodule formation so these

things can really reduce that risk

substantially the other con with

sculpture is that there's actually no

guarantee that you're going to get

results the degree of neocologenesis

or new collagen formation it varies a

lot from person to person some people

just don't respond to sculptra you know

their fibroblasts are just like whatever

and don't make a collagen to the same

extent

and so they're

they're less happy you know they're

going to get underwhelming results and

it's expensive and there's no nothing

that can guarantee that you're going to

get the results that you want with it so

those are the pros and cons of sculptra

in comparison to hyaluronic acid

now that we've got fda approval of the

use of sculptra for wrinkles and fine

lines i'm sure it will be something that

is more commonly in the aesthetic

dermatology practice arsenal

or plastic surgery arsenal in terms of

volume restoration tools but it has been

around a lot longer than you might think

it's not anything really new what are

some other things that this might be

helpful for you're probably thinking

about it in terms of volume restoration

in the face but it's also used to treat

volume loss in the backs of the hands

there is a lot of interest in using

sculptra for the improvement of

cellulite as you can imagine the

dimpling that you see with cellulite it

really bothers people cosmetically you

can imagine how stimulating the skin to

produce collagen can kind of smooth out

some of that dimpling in the skin and

improve the contour of like the upper

thighs where you have cellulite and then

for patients who have undergone

sculptural i mentioned you know you kind

of get

a more radiant glow

it's called the sculpture glow as your

body starts making more collagen but in

a lot of patients who happen to have

indented acne scars uh you can imagine

we observe that those scars start to

smooth out so there is definitely

interest in sculptra for acne scars for

sure the other thing that people are

intrigued with when it comes to sculptra

is is this something that someone say in

their 30s might want to try for a

preventative it's not as though we have

studies saying that if you get sculptra

in certain areas in your 30s then later

on in life you will have fewer wrinkles

of course you guys know the majority of

the reason why we get wrinkles that we

can control is going to be the amount of

sun exposure but genetics and hormones

and things definitely play a role and

with age we start to make less collagen

so by boosting up collagen production

earlier on in life with sculpture would

that have a preventative effect is

definitely something that people ask

about

but uh the majority of people who may be

pursuing this are those who have visible

volume loss sagging and are looking for

volume restoration skin tightening and

an overall more radiant glow but it is

not anything that you can go back on so

it is a big commitment it's definitely

not something that you can just kind of

decide last minute that you want to do i

would definitely talk to your

aesthetic practitioner dermatologist

plastic surgeon

and you know maybe discuss with them if

this is really right for you because

like i said it's

there's nothing that can be done really

to reverse it like with hyaluronic acid

fillers so that is sculptra something

that can be used to stimulate your body

to make more collagen firming up the

skin improving volume and smoothing out

wrinkles and fine lines i hope you guys

enjoyed this video let us know in the

comments though if you have had sculptra

what your results were did you get a

good response in terms of collagen

production share in the comments your

experience but i hope you all enjoyed

this video on the insulate i'm going to

put my video on filler gone wrong where

i cover common complications of filler

but if you like this video give it a

thumbs up share it with your friends and

as always don't forget sunscreen and

subscribe i'll talk to you guys tomorrow

bye

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so

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you